Ammunition-case.



Patented Oct. l6, I900. F. M. GARLAND. AMMUNITION CASE.

(Application filed Apr. 25, 1999.," (No Model.)

rm: Norms mans w, mmomuo. wmmm'm. n. I;

'FFICE.

FRANK M. GARLANDJ'OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT.

AMMUNITION-CASE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No; 659,659, dated October 16, 1900.

. Application filed April 25, 1899.

To. all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANK M, GARLAND, a citizen of the United States,residing at New Haven, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ammunition- Cases, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to cases for containing ammunition, which are designed to be attached to machine-guns and similar rapidfire ordnance that "require a continuous feed of ammunition.

The object of the invention is to provide a case of this nature which is so constructed that ammunition will as needed be fed by gravity rapidly and positively from the case into the gun.

The embodiment of the invention illus trated has a case arranged to be attached to the shell of the gun adjacent to the feedopening, with interior partitions that separate the several rows of cartridges, which partitions are yieldingly secured to the said case in such a manner that the weight of the cartridges in one row upon the top of the partition holds the same in its inoperative position; but as soon as the weight of the cartridges has been removed the partition is thrown upwardlyby spring action and the cartridges in the next lower row are released and drop by gravity into the feed-outlet passage, thus insuring a free automatic feed of cartridges from the case into the gun.

Referring to the drawings, in which like numerals designate like parts in the several views, Figure 1 is a fragmentary elevation of the case attached to the shell of an auto--' matic machine-gun. Fig. 2 is a transverse section thereof. Fig. 3 is a side view with aportion of one of the side walls broken away; and Fig. 4 shows plan, side, and edge-views Y of one of the yielding partitions.

The case illustrated is substantially rec tangular in cross-section, although it may be of any other desiredglshape, and is provided withside walls 1 having rounded corners, upon which are fitted caps 2, that form the endsof the case. These parts may be made of brass, steel, or any other desired material fitted for this class of work. Projecting laterally fromeach of the caps arestuds 3,

Serial No. 714,388. (No model.)

which are adapted to be engaged with books 4 on-the shell of the gun 5 for retaining the case in position, with the outlet-opening G inthe case registering with the inlet opening 7 through the shell of the gun. The outletopening through the case extends from end to end and may be temporarily closed by a slide 8, that is so constructed that it may be readily withdrawn when it is desired to open the outlet-passage and permit the cartridges to enter the gun.

The side walls of the case shown are formed from a single piece of metal; but, if desired, they can be madeof different pieces and the end caps secured iri'lqlace by any preferred means. Within the case-are a number of parallel partitions 9, preferably of steel or other spring metal, whichj ette'nd from one side nearly to the opposite side, a distance from each'other that is substantially the same as the diameter of a cartridge. At one end each of the said partitions is secured to the side wall of the ease with the other end free. Itis preferred that the partitions shall be loosely held, which is done by passing the portions 10 of each partition through slots 1.1 in the sidewall and bending over the outer ends thereof. The end of each of the partitions that is attached to the side walls of the case has a downwardly-turned portion 12, that tends to f spring the free end up, whieh free end has a downwardly-turned finger 13. between the side walls and the fingers 13 is equal to the diameter of a cartridge and forms the feed-outlet passage 15. A lining 14 of felt', asbestos, or other suitable material may be applied to the inside of the case to prevent any undue concussion being transmitted from the'case to the primers of the cartridges.

Cartridges having projectiles weighing a pound, more or less,-are placed in the case between the partitions from one end and The distance when the case is filled that end is closed by one of. the caps. The case is then attached to the shell of the gun so as to stand 0bliquelythat. is, with the partitions lying at an angle with the line of gravity.

\Vhen the slide 8, closing the outlet-opening 6 in the case, is withdrawn, the cartridges can pass through the outlet-opening and into the gun. The cartridges in the feed-outlet v to passage to will be fi'iist discharged successively from the outlet-o1.)ening 6, 'therow of cartridges on the top partition sliding down upon thesaid partition and dropping off the end thereofintsube feed-outlet passage as the original cartridges in said passage are dis-j charged by gravitythrongh the saidopening.

- When the last cartridgein thetop row has,

been discharged into the feed-outlet passage,

the weight upon the uppermost partition is removed and the spring-finger 12 throws the fiorward endof the partition upward, lifting, the finger 13 from in front of the first cart ridge. The passage for this row of cartridges into the feed-outlet passage now being unobstructed the cartridges slide or roll by gravity down-the uppersideof the next, partition and drop off the end thereof into the feed-outlet passage,- following the last cartridge in the row first discharged. This operation con tinues until all of the several rows of cartridgeshave been discharged into the feed- 'outlet passage and from thence through the outlet-opening dinto the gnu-body.

The weight of a single cartridgeissufficient to hold the partition upon which it rests in its inoperative position, so that the last car-,

tridge nustbe -('lischarged into the feed-outlet passage before the partition is released and before the cartridges in the next row can enter said passage. By this operation it will be noted that the cartridges in the upper row pass'regularly into the outlet-passage and are followed by the cartridges in the row next below and so on until all have been discharge-d. This arrangement prevents clogging or jamming ofth'ecartridges and insures a continued unobstructed stream of carcartridge from feeding down through the outtridges into the gun-body.

If perchance the cartridges in the second row, being heavier than the last cartridge'in the upper row, should prevent the said last let-passage before the second row of car tridges enters, the practical result is always the same, because the said last cartridge is bound ultimately to pass down through the said passage. t I

The width of the feed-outlet passage is only slightly larger than the diameter of the cartridges themselves, so that two cartridges cannot be in the passage at the same time,

7 and hencecannot clog and the last cartridge in the second row cannot hold back the last cartridge from the upper row, as they both have a rounded contour and one will crowd by the other and drop into the feed-outlet passage and finallybe discharged :throught the out let-openingf The vibration of the gun, to which the ammunition-case is attached, consequent upon the successive discharges'and the rounded form of the cartridges insures the ultimate disposition of the same into the outlet-pasusage.

These cases are easily and readily filled with cartridges and can be quickly and se from the said row of eurely' attached to a gun without danger of "accident or chant-e of error.

It is apparent that there are. minorohanges and alterations that can be made within my invention, and I would therefore have it understood that I do not limit myself to the exact construction herein shown and described, but claim all that falls fairly within the spirit and scope of thy-invention.

I claim as my invention-- v1. An amrhunition-case consisting of a receptacle having interior partitions with portions, extending through one side wall, a portionengaging with that side wall and tending to tl1ro\\ upwtrdlyt the free end, the free end of said -pa rtitiou having downtiirned fingers, substantially as specified.

2. In an anitnunition-case adapted to hold a pin ral i ty of cartridges, the com hination with the outer case or receptacle having an outletopeningtherethrough;- of a plurality of partitions yieldingly secured therein to one side thereof and provided with a downWardly-p'ro-- too rating said rows of cartridges, secured at one end to the wall of the receptacle and having a bent portion at the opposite end, which normally obstructs the passage through which one. of the rows of cartridges is discharged, each of said partitions having a spring that tends 'tothrow. the free end of said partition upwardly and carry'the'said bent portion away from the said row of cartridges, substantially as specified.

5. An ammunition-case adapted to hold a pluralitypf rows of cartridges and consisting of a receptacle having interior partitions'for separating said rows of cartridges, which partitions have one free end formed with a bent portion,- that normally obstructs the passage throughwhich one of the rows of cartridges is discharged, and provided with portions extending through one side Wall and other portions engaging with the interior of said side wall and tending to throw upwardly the said free end and carry the said bentportion away cartridges, substantially as specified.

6. In an ammunition-case adapted to hold a plurality of rows of-cartridges, thecombination with an outer case or receptacle, of independent partition-s yieldingly-secured at one end within said case to one side thereof and.

extending nearly to the opposite side, each of said partitions having a bent portion at its 'esaese I s free end which obstructs the outlet of the chamber beneath it, whereby a single unobstructed chamber is formed within two sides of said cas'e, and avpluralityof independent chambers formed between'the said partitions and means, as springs, for throwing upward the free end of said partitions, substantially as specified. Y

7. -In an am munition case adapted to hold a plurality of rows of cartridges, the combination with an outer case or receptacle having an outlet-opening therethrough, ofindependent partitions yielding ly secured within the said ease to one side thereof, and extending nearly to the-opposite side terminating in bent portions which close the outlet of the i chambers beneath said partition, whereby a single chamber is formed above the said opening and a plurality of chambersat substantially right angles thereto, and means,'as

springs, for throwingupward the free end of said partitions substantially asspecified.

8. An ammunition-case adapted to hold a plurality of rows of cartridges and consisting of a receptacle having interior partitions for separating said rows of cartridges, which partitions have one free end provided with a fin ger portion, which finger portion normally re- FRANK M. GARITAND.

Witnesses:

H. R. WILLIAMS, 0. E. BUOKLAND. 

